Inkstand.



, F. M. ASHLEY.

INKSTAND. I APPLIOATION FILED nqv. 6, 1909.

Patented Mar. 14,1911.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK M. ASHLEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

INKSTAND.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK M. ASHLEY, citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Inkstands, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to inkstands of the automatic type and the object of my invention is to provide means for protecting the dip cup from being struck in case a book or other object should fall across the top of the stand, and to also prevent the dip cup from sticking to the guide in which it plays.

A further object is to provide a stand in which the upper end of the dip cup is 'exposed above the body of the well so that the pen may rest across its outer edge to depress the dip cup, in practically the same manner as though no protecting means or guard was provided, the invention also comprehending the embodiment of the cup guide and guard in one piece, as well as the provision of a shoulder for limiting the upward movement of the float.

Referring to the drawings which form a part of this specification,Figure 1, is a plan view of the body of a stand and float, the guard element constituting a feature of the invention, being shown in section on line mw of Fig. 2. Fig. 2, is a vertical sectional view of the body of the stand and guard element, disclosing in elevation, the float in its normal position as it would appear when this stand is filled with ink.

A indicates the body portion of the stand which is usually constructed of glass; B, the guard element, and C, the float.

The upper end of the float element C, is provided with a dip cup C adapted to pass through the opening B in the element B. The element B, is further provided with a shoulder b, the inner edge of which is made rather sharp or rounded so that it will present very little surface to contact with the flange portion C of the dip cup C, which flange portion is of larger diameter than the top end of the dip cup, and serves as an abutment to prevent the float from rising above a pre-determined position relative to the element B. It will be observed that the flange portion I) is also provided with a sharp edge which serves to prevent ink from drying in contact with any extended surface thereon and causing the float to stick to the element Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 6, 1909.

Patented Mar. 14, 1911.

Serial No. 526,481.

B, and to further carry this idea into elfect, the element B is provided with projections Z)?) etc, which serve as guides for the float C, and are V-shaped in form, the sharp edges of the guides I) being arranged to contact with the edge of the flange C and thus leave no extended areas to dry in contact with each other and thereby stick together and become inoperative. A further advantage of this construction is that when the float C is depressed, the air is free to flow into and out of the well D between the guides b as the float is reciprocated, and thereby permit easy action thereof, and further, if the ink should overrun the dip cup, it would flow back to the well D between the guides Z).

It will be noted that the dip cup C is exposed all around its outer edge, and at a proper distance from the outer edge of the element B to permit the pen of the user to act on the dip cup from any direction desired, and that the top of the dip cup is at all times protected against any considerable accidental depression. I prefer to have the dip cup on a line with or slightly below the top edge of the element B, but it could project somewhat above said element if desired, so long as the distance above was such that the depression of the funnel from above the top of the element B, would be insuflicient to make the ink spurt above the dip cup when suddenly depressed to the top edge of said element B.

The other features of construction of the float and operation of the stand will be found fully described in my patent granted May 14, 1907, No. 853,213, and will be easily understood by a reference to said patent.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an inkstand, a body portion, a float and a guard element, the latter provided at its lower end, with a guide for the float and presenting a guard portion therefor at its upper end, the upper end of the float extending through the guard element and supported above the top of the body portion of the stand, within the upper end of said guard portion.

2. In an inkstand, a body portion, a float and a guard element, the latter embodying an inwardly extending portion, the float having a dip cup extending through the guard element and supported within the latter and above the top of the body portion of the stand, the cup having a laterally disposed part adapted to contact with the in- V wardly extending portion of the guard, and

'through the guard element and supported within the latter and above the top of the body portion of the stand, said cup having a smooth surface adapted to make limited contact with. the restricted edge of said guard element.

' 4. In an inkstand, a body portion, a float.

and a guard element, the latter embodying an inwardly extending portion and vertical V-shaped guides below the same, said inwardly extending portion terminating in a restricted edge surface, the float'having a dip cup extending through the guard element and supported within the latter and above the top of the body portion of the stand, said cup having a smooth surface adapted to make limited contact with the restricted edge of the inwardly extending portion, and the bottom of the cup having an edge portion adapted to contact with the V shaped guides of the guard element, for the purpose set forth.

5. In an inkstand, a body portion a float and aguard element, the latter embodying an inwardly extending portion and vertical V shaped guides below the same, the float having'a dip cup extending through said element and supported above the top of the body portion of the stand, within the upper end of said element, the cup having a lat erally disposed part adapted to contact with the inwardly extending portion of the guard and thus limit the rising movement of the cup.

6. In an inkstand, a body portion, a float and a guard element, the latter embodying an annular inwardly extending portion and lower vertical guides, the float having a dip cup extending through said element and supported within the latter and above the top of the body portion of the stand, said cup having a laterally disposed portion adapted to be stopped at the limit of its ascent by the inwardly extending portion of the guard element, and descend in contact with the guides to provide passage for the air.

7. In an inkstand, a body portion, a float and a guard element, the latter embodying an annular inwardly extending portion and lower vertical guides, the floathaving a dip cup extending through said element and supported within the element and having its upper edge approximately on a level with the top edge of said element, the upper portion of the element being configurated to leave a liberal annular space intervening between it and the dip cup, the latter having a laterally disposed portlon adapted to move in contact with the guides and be stopped at the limit of its ascent by the inwardly extending portion of the guard element.

Signed at New York city in the county of New York and State of New York this 4th day of November A. D. 1909.

FRANK M. ASHLEY.

VVitn'esses:

MINNIE S. MILLER, H. L. Munnoox.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C." 

